Poly(SMA- <i>co</i> -EGDMA) Th-2-NiC Monolith Sensor for Visual Detection and Removal of Metal Ions

Recent advances in organic synthesis and analytical science have focused on materials that achieve both high performance and sustainability. Such materials are designed to eliminate harmful metal ions from the environment and thereby contribute to both ecological safety and enhanced functional performance. Thus, a highly selective fluorescent probe, Th-2-NiC, has been synthesized and deployed to detect and eliminate aluminum ion (Al3+) from food and biological samples. A solution-phase detection by a fluorometric technique exhibited a sensitivity from 5 nM to 9.2 mM toward Al3+. Further, to provide effectiveness to real-time sample analysis, solid support to the probe was assisted by poly(stearyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) poly(SMA-co-EGDMA) monolith polymer synthesized by the radical-initiated bulk polymerization process. The mesoporosity of the probe-incorporated monolith was analyzed using spectroscopic, BET, and FE-SEM images. The constructed sensor material exhibits a prominent color change from pastel yellow to orange upon exposure to Al3+. ICP-OES data exhibiting a 99% recovery of Al3+ from aluminum-contaminated food samples emphasized the practical utility of the poly(SMA-co-EGDMA)Th-2-NiC. These trappings can be reverberated several times with a high recyclable rate of 99% at the seventh cycle, with RSD ≤ 1.3%, demonstrating the reproducibility of the sensor material. Furthermore, the adaptability of the probe in other solid supports was tested by constructing the Th-2-NiC/PVDF nanofiber. Notwithstanding the above outcome, an impressive tracking of Al3+ by Th-2-NiC in various biological contexts, like the MCF-7 cell line and hyacinth bean, is evident for the biocompatibility and in vitro imaging efficiency of the probe. Altogether, the synthesized probe exhibits multifunctional material behavior for an effective detection of aluminum from different samples in varying environments.